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Photocatalytic Degradation of a Chlorinated Organic Chemical Using Activated Carbon Fiber Coupled with Semiconductor
Author(s) -
Gopinath Ashitha,
Krishna Kadirvelu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/php.13130
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , degradation (telecommunications) , chemistry , radical , 2,4 dichlorophenol , catalysis , hydrothermal circulation , fiber , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , benzoquinone , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , sediment , telecommunications , paleontology , computer science , engineering , biology
Abstract Hydrothermal mediated synthesis was used to couple activated carbon fiber and semiconductor. Batch mode photocatalytic experiments were performed to investigate the efficacy of the developed photocatalyst in the degradation of 2, 4‐dichlorophenol. Operational parameters including initial concentration of 2, 4‐dichlorophenol and catalyst loading were optimized at natural pH conditions. Addition of inorganic anions during the degradation revealed that the presence of anions greatly affects the degradation efficiency. The significance of highly reactive radicals on the photocatalytic degradation was identified by the addition of radical scavengers such as isopropanol ( OH ˙), benzoquinone (˙ O 2 - ) and potassium iodide (h + ). Reusability of the photocatalyst was confirmed by conducting five cyclic studies. Further, the dissolution of Zn 2+ in the solution was analyzed and determined to be 0.199 μ g mL −1 . Seed germination study was conducted to examine the toxicity nature of ZnO on growth and development of Vigna radiata .